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This Is Not That Kind of Book
This is a book that answers all the kids who have ever posed the question What kind of book is it?
This clever alphabet book... Wait, that's not right. This original fairy tale... Nope. Mystery? Joke book? Superhero story? Pirate adventure? This delightful mash-up features every kind of character found in the picture-book universe--all in one book. Just when the reader is convinced the story is going in one direction, it spins off in another.
Ever-changing illustrations keep pace with the rapid reversals, and the setting shifts with nearly every turn of the page. Truly inventive, here's a picture book that can be anything you want it to be!
This clever alphabet book... Wait, that's not right. This original fairy tale... Nope. Mystery? Joke book? Superhero story? Pirate adventure? This delightful mash-up features every kind of character found in the picture-book universe--all in one book. Just when the reader is convinced the story is going in one direction, it spins off in another.
Ever-changing illustrations keep pace with the rapid reversals, and the setting shifts with nearly every turn of the page. Truly inventive, here's a picture book that can be anything you want it to be!
40 pages, Library Binding
First published October 15, 2019
4 people are currently reading
231 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Healy
18 books476 followersChristopher Healy is the author of the Hero's Guide trilogy (The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle, and The Hero's Guide to Being an Outlaw), the Perilous Journey of Danger & Mayhem trilogy (A Dastardly Plot, The Treacherous Seas, and The Final Gambit), and This Is Not That Kind of Book. His newest book, No One Leaves the Castle—a fantasy mystery standalone spinoff of the Hero's Guide novels—comes out in August 2023.
Chris lives in New Jersey with his wife, two children, and a dog named Winston Bean. Visit him at ChristopherHealy.com. And visit the Hero's Guide/No One Leaves the Castle universe at TheThirteenKingdoms.com.
Chris lives in New Jersey with his wife, two children, and a dog named Winston Bean. Visit him at ChristopherHealy.com. And visit the Hero's Guide/No One Leaves the Castle universe at TheThirteenKingdoms.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
October 16, 2019
Little Red Riding Hood, The Letter A, an apple, a robot, a hedgehog, a pirate and a detective all in the same story? What? That is exactly what you will find in This is Not That Kind of Book by Christopher Healy. Illustrated by Ben Mantle this silly story tells the tale of mixed up stories creating uncertainty, highlighting the unexpected, and perhaps exposing young minds to mixed genres.
Princess Sophia laughed at all the wrongness of the story from the landscape to the unexpected. She was perplexed by a character’s stubbornness not to accept friends because they didn’t fit into her story. I was relieved when the character showed growed and friendships formed.
While Clayton will be three in less than a month, the story was lost to him as it was a bit more complex. He however enjoyed the colorful illustrations and grew animated by his sister’s cries of, “What the heck is going on here?” This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Princess Sophia laughed at all the wrongness of the story from the landscape to the unexpected. She was perplexed by a character’s stubbornness not to accept friends because they didn’t fit into her story. I was relieved when the character showed growed and friendships formed.
While Clayton will be three in less than a month, the story was lost to him as it was a bit more complex. He however enjoyed the colorful illustrations and grew animated by his sister’s cries of, “What the heck is going on here?” This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
February 4, 2023
Adorable!!
May 20, 2021
Featured in a grandma reads session.
Well. This is NOT an alphabet book. We read it through to the very end and can absolutely attest and witness that this is NOT an alphabet book.
We are not altogether sure what kind of book it is exactly. By the end we were all standing around with our cocktails in hand wondering who, exactly who, had killed the butler. Every clue was laid out, but not one of us knew whodunit.
Nah! Just kidding about the butler and cocktails. But the exact point of the book. . . .? Just literally the title? Maybe?
Well. This is NOT an alphabet book. We read it through to the very end and can absolutely attest and witness that this is NOT an alphabet book.
We are not altogether sure what kind of book it is exactly. By the end we were all standing around with our cocktails in hand wondering who, exactly who, had killed the butler. Every clue was laid out, but not one of us knew whodunit.
Nah! Just kidding about the butler and cocktails. But the exact point of the book. . . .? Just literally the title? Maybe?
February 19, 2020
What a mess of a book. Boring. Went on forever. A “moral” thrown in at the end for good measure that had to be explained.
May 29, 2021
This book and its characters were super funny!! The pictures were also very good. Can't wait to show this to my little sister!
December 7, 2019
If there were a genre called intelligently goofy, this would be that kind of book. Great illustrations tell the story of disparate characters, some human, others not (an apple, a banana, a robot, among others) who encounter each other while trying to figure out exactly what kind of book they're in. Little ones, parents and teachers will have great fun following along as these multiple characters in search of meaning, or something like that, work together most of the time. What they learn is refreshing and a good lesson about the value of keeping an open mind and the fun of discovery that accompanies a good book of any age/reading level.
June 15, 2020
This book works on several levels. Younger readers will enjoy the crazy mixed up story about characters from all sorts of books. More mature readers will appreciate the subtle and then not as subtle message about getting along and creating your own stories.
February 9, 2022
I'm not one to write book reviews with spoilers in them, so I won't start now. Enjoy!!!
June 1, 2020
A picture book that features a mash-up of characters, settings, and problems. I’d use it with my students to open discussion of genres and hybrid books. Purchased for my 4/5th grade classroom.
February 23, 2020
This is Not That Kind of Book by Christopher Healy, illustrated by Ben Mantle. PICTURE BOOK. Random House, 2019. $18. 9780525580294.
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
When the letter A tries to start the book, the girl in the red hooded cape tells it that this is not THAT KIND OF BOOK. But as they continue through the pages, they find a robot, a hedgehog, a banana, and more. Just what kind of book is this exactly?
Healy turns the genre-identifying picture book on its head by shaking it all up and still creating an actual story. This would be super fun to read after a genre-study unit as a way to show how a skilled author can actually shake everything up in great ways.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
When the letter A tries to start the book, the girl in the red hooded cape tells it that this is not THAT KIND OF BOOK. But as they continue through the pages, they find a robot, a hedgehog, a banana, and more. Just what kind of book is this exactly?
Healy turns the genre-identifying picture book on its head by shaking it all up and still creating an actual story. This would be super fun to read after a genre-study unit as a way to show how a skilled author can actually shake everything up in great ways.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
June 19, 2020
This book is meant to be fun, and it is. It would make a terrific shared reading for young learners to introduce the idea of genre in books, sorting of types of books, finding patterns, etc.
For any librarian who has ever asked a child, "What kind of books do you like?" this is the perfect offering to expand interests and explore other possibilities.
When I read about the premise, I felt I had to read it. It is cleverly done, and reminds me a bit of Weisner's Caldecott winner- The THREE PIGS, a meta exploration in which the characters take over the course of the story and reshape the conclusions.
For any librarian who has ever asked a child, "What kind of books do you like?" this is the perfect offering to expand interests and explore other possibilities.
When I read about the premise, I felt I had to read it. It is cleverly done, and reminds me a bit of Weisner's Caldecott winner- The THREE PIGS, a meta exploration in which the characters take over the course of the story and reshape the conclusions.
December 10, 2019
A humorous look at the different types of children's books that are out there. Characters from an alphabet book, fairy tale, sci-fi, and more get their stories mashed together and try to figure out what kind of book they are in anyways. It can be used as an introduction to genres for little kids. But mostly I like that this book is kind of poking fun at the typical things we see in stories. Kids who read a lot will totally get the humor in this. Entertaining, outside of the box, and actually cute too.
October 24, 2019
Check out the full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfi...
THIS IS NOT THAT KIND OF BOOK is a humorous jaunt through book genres and classification with some messages about the necessity of expectation flexibility and friendship. The book starts out seeming like an alphabet book, before turning into a fairytale into a science fiction and then a classroom story with mystery, pirates, and joke book characters. In the end, it turns out that this is a book all of its own.
The book features colorful, cartoonish characters with their own fun quirks that come together to create a uniquely adorable story. Much of the book is conveyed through dialogue with some overhead narration, making it a book that is better for older picture book readers who can follow along with who is speaking and also who can understand the comedy. Children will adore the apple who only says “I’m an apple!” but has particularly expressive facial expressions, and whose one phrase could thus convey those emotions as per Groot (for people familiar with The Guardians). There is also the letter A, who only says words which begin with A, and the young girl in a cape, who may be a superhero in sci-fi but is likely not as she is from fairytale books, and even the tenacious Hedgible T. Hedgehog, who is awaiting her new friends who she is sure will be other animals in people clothes.
What I loved: The storyline is certainly giggle-worthy as the diverse characters appear and add their own charm. The plot will make little ones laugh as they explore different genres and types of characters, and as such, this is a great introduction into how stories are classified. The main lessons of the book are about teamwork and unlikely friends, as well as not being too quick to judge or make assumptions about a book (or a person/character, such as a person in person clothes or a letter or a robot), which are certainly universal lessons important to many situations. Children will love laughing along with the story and the many humorous situations.
Final verdict: Ultimately, this is a charming and funny book that literally crosses literary genres and will certainly be enjoyed by preschoolers and young elementary schoolers. With many delightful characters, some important lessons, and a big dose of comedy, this picture book is a win!
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
THIS IS NOT THAT KIND OF BOOK is a humorous jaunt through book genres and classification with some messages about the necessity of expectation flexibility and friendship. The book starts out seeming like an alphabet book, before turning into a fairytale into a science fiction and then a classroom story with mystery, pirates, and joke book characters. In the end, it turns out that this is a book all of its own.
The book features colorful, cartoonish characters with their own fun quirks that come together to create a uniquely adorable story. Much of the book is conveyed through dialogue with some overhead narration, making it a book that is better for older picture book readers who can follow along with who is speaking and also who can understand the comedy. Children will adore the apple who only says “I’m an apple!” but has particularly expressive facial expressions, and whose one phrase could thus convey those emotions as per Groot (for people familiar with The Guardians). There is also the letter A, who only says words which begin with A, and the young girl in a cape, who may be a superhero in sci-fi but is likely not as she is from fairytale books, and even the tenacious Hedgible T. Hedgehog, who is awaiting her new friends who she is sure will be other animals in people clothes.
What I loved: The storyline is certainly giggle-worthy as the diverse characters appear and add their own charm. The plot will make little ones laugh as they explore different genres and types of characters, and as such, this is a great introduction into how stories are classified. The main lessons of the book are about teamwork and unlikely friends, as well as not being too quick to judge or make assumptions about a book (or a person/character, such as a person in person clothes or a letter or a robot), which are certainly universal lessons important to many situations. Children will love laughing along with the story and the many humorous situations.
Final verdict: Ultimately, this is a charming and funny book that literally crosses literary genres and will certainly be enjoyed by preschoolers and young elementary schoolers. With many delightful characters, some important lessons, and a big dose of comedy, this picture book is a win!
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
December 18, 2019
While this picture book might be a bit too ambitious with all the territory it covers, it still made me smile and might offer a gentle rebuke to those purists who prefer that their book genres be kept separated. The opening page features a letter A preparing to proclaim what it stands for--an apple, of course--when it's interrupted by Little Red Riding Hood and then a cast of other characters most likely to be found in a fairy tale or a science fiction story. They converge on a schoolhouse where they meet Hedgible T. Hedgehog, who's waiting for her new classmates and future friends. But Hedgible is a character in an animal story, and these new characters just don't fit the bill. Nor is this "that kind of book" (unpaged), a refrain that is uttered constantly throughout the story even as a banana, a pirate, and a detective join in the fun. Eventually, of course, Hedgible realizes the error of her ways and embraces these newfound friends. The digital artwork adds to the fun as does the little green apple that keeps asserting itself all along the way, proclaiming its identity. Metafiction titles such as this one offer chances to stretch the imagination and dream of the literary possibilities.
September 15, 2023
Book #: 58
Title: This is NOT That Kind of a Book
Author: Christopher Healy
Series: na
Format: 32 pages, hardcover, ILL,
Pub Date: First published October 15, 2019
Started: 9/1/23 Ended: 9/1/23
Awards: none
Categories: Children's book, A book you can read in a day,
Possible puppet show
Rating: ***** five out of five stars
I spotted this while doing the CCLS Book Tour and visiting EVERY library in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties. I'm always on the lookout for puppet shows. Children's books and fairy tales are always excellent sources. This one is perfect! If you change 'book' to 'puppet play' you can perform it without changing another word. I've even got half of the characters as assorted types of puppets. And if anyone is wondering, I perform puppet shows for a social group I'm in and there is no admittance fee, so no profits.
Title: This is NOT That Kind of a Book
Author: Christopher Healy
Series: na
Format: 32 pages, hardcover, ILL,
Pub Date: First published October 15, 2019
Started: 9/1/23 Ended: 9/1/23
Awards: none
Categories: Children's book, A book you can read in a day,
Possible puppet show
Rating: ***** five out of five stars
I spotted this while doing the CCLS Book Tour and visiting EVERY library in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties. I'm always on the lookout for puppet shows. Children's books and fairy tales are always excellent sources. This one is perfect! If you change 'book' to 'puppet play' you can perform it without changing another word. I've even got half of the characters as assorted types of puppets. And if anyone is wondering, I perform puppet shows for a social group I'm in and there is no admittance fee, so no profits.
December 8, 2021
Christopher Healy’s This Is Not That Kind of Book is the quintessential genre mashup. There are pirates, bananas, robots, superheroes, talking letters, detectives, fairy tale characters, animals-at-school. But it’s none of those tropes. “There was only one way to find out what kind of book this was. But it would require bravery. There would be no backing out…This book is about a group of characters who have nothing in common, but who work together to figure out what kind of book they’re in…Anybody can belong in a book like this!” As Hedgible T. Hedgehog discovers, it’s “a lesson about friendship! This is that kind of book.” Our school theme this year is You Belong Here, and I can think of no better book to communicate this message to students of all ages.
December 5, 2019
This is an alphabet book. No wait. A fairy tale...on Mars...with a robot...and animals wearing human clothes that go to school. What kind of book is this? That's what the characters are determined to find out.
A fun book that breaks all the rules and has a delightful time doing so. In the process the characters might learn a thing or two about teamwork and friendship, and maybe about being flexible when faced with change. Give little readers practicing their prediction skills a major workout with this book. And of course, if you're looking for something funny and just a little different, it is perfect for that too. Also a good mystery picture book.
A fun book that breaks all the rules and has a delightful time doing so. In the process the characters might learn a thing or two about teamwork and friendship, and maybe about being flexible when faced with change. Give little readers practicing their prediction skills a major workout with this book. And of course, if you're looking for something funny and just a little different, it is perfect for that too. Also a good mystery picture book.
January 8, 2020
A very clever book that seems to be in search of a genre/format. The story begins as an Alphabet Book but then when Red Riding Hood shows up, the reader sees that "this is not that kind of book." New characters continue to show up, change the story line and confuse the genre/format. In the end, the book embraces its universal theme of friendship. It would be a great book to use in lessons about genres and formats to help young writers learn differences and the need for clarity. It's a bit like Andrew Clement's Nightmare at the Book Fair but for younger readers. It would be a good book to add to a classroom collection.
July 23, 2022
I would have to draw a comparison between this and A Book by Mordecai Gerstein in that any teacher reading this will instantly equate it with a lesson on literary genres. This book seems primarily focused on not fitting into one and hopping between them instead. It also touches on some story types that kids will surely be familiar with that aren't necessarily considered one of the top five genres. It's got a dry wit that readers should be able to appreciate. I particularly enjoyed the apple in the story with his regular interjections that he is an apple, regardless of the context. Very nicely done.
October 17, 2019
This clever alphabet book... Wait, that's not right. This original fairy tale... Nope. Mystery? Joke book? Superhero story? Pirate adventure? This delightful mash-up features every kind of character found in the picture-book universe--all in one book. Just when the reader is convinced the story is going in one direction, it spins off in another. Ever-changing illustrations keep pace with the rapid reversals, and the setting shifts with nearly every turn of the page. Truly inventive, here's a picture book that can be anything you want it to be!
December 28, 2019
Several characters expect that they are in a certain kind of book, because of who they are or their surroundings, but with the turn of the page their circumstances change and they realize maybe they aren't in "That Kind of Book" after all...
Very clever, great use of shifting expectations, the characters are fun and different from each other (loved that the "A" from the alphabet book that wasn't only speaks in words beginning with "a"!) and it still manages to have a good story and a little lesson in friendship.
No content issues.
March 23, 2020
This was a really cute story that challenge's reader's assumptions of how stories are told and how books work. These types of books are a really fun way for new readers to incorporate their imaginations and really engage with a story.
However, I don't think this is one that I would typically read aloud to others. This might work in a 1:1 setting but with so many characters and so much dialogue I could see myself getting winded quickly.
I would still absolutely recommend this book to emerging readers
However, I don't think this is one that I would typically read aloud to others. This might work in a 1:1 setting but with so many characters and so much dialogue I could see myself getting winded quickly.
I would still absolutely recommend this book to emerging readers
January 31, 2020
So, this book... so, they're trying to figure out what kind of book this is, and at the end they figured maybe this is a letter book after all, because at the end there's this C-C-C-C-C-C-C-Captain. Probably you would like this if you like nonsense, because this is definitely nonsense. I was like "WHAT!? Why is there a Captain Banana for the joker!? Why didn't they put The Joker for the joker? WHAT!?"
October 21, 2020
This humorous picture book includes elements of many different types of picture books from fairy tales, alphabet books, science fiction, school stories and jokes but it is not just one type. It is a friendship book that shows how different people and characters can work together. The characters are familiar and welcoming to the reader engaging them even though the story is unexpected. I would recommend this title just for the giggle factor.
July 4, 2024
This is a clever genre-bending picture book about genre-specific picture books. Each character is introduced as an integral part of a particular genre, like science fiction or detective, but they all have an idea of what should happen in their book, but none of them are totally right. This book reminds me a little of the play Six Characters in Search of an Author, without the discussion of the author, but definitely with the discussion of their perceived purpose.
January 11, 2020
This story made us laugh and laugh and laugh. It ends fabulously. It has fairy tales, robots, pirates, animal characters, talking food, a detective and letters for an alphabet book. It is a great book to read and laugh about especially when children have a good understanding of genre. Brilliantly written!
April 8, 2020
I typically don't categorize/record books that I read my 3 year old, but OMG this book is just terrible. The only slight redeeming feature is the illustration but since it can't save the story (or lack therefore) it still doesn't rank better than one. If this wasn't a library book I would have already used it to line my cat's litter tray.
Avoid at all costs if you can.
Avoid at all costs if you can.
February 15, 2021
A great twist to writing a children’s book! Superb illustrations and characters take you on a zany quest to find out the reasoning of this book. The book is perfect for six to nine year old that may have become tired of more straightforward storylines. The readers will have delight from beginning to end!
September 18, 2021
Characters from an alphabet book, a fairy tale, and a school story with animals that wear human clothes all end up in this story. So, what kind of book is it? They have to find out! Definitely for an elementary crowd that would understand who the characters are and that they aren't in the right book. I wish it was a little longer to be the kind of book it actually is.
September 13, 2025
The letter A and an apple find themselves suddenly in a fairy tale, but instead of a wolf, they meet a robot. Eventually, there are characters from all kinds of books, and at least one of them is very upset about this. They must go on an adventure to figure out who belongs.
This one doesn't have a strong theme, but it is a lot of fun to read.
This one doesn't have a strong theme, but it is a lot of fun to read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews